The multiplication table is something you have to learn, but memorizing it can be really tough.
Even if children chant it out loud like a magic spell many times every day, there are probably many who still struggle to remember it.
In this article, we’ll introduce games that help kids enjoy learning the multiplication table!
We’ve gathered a variety of games: ones you can play on a computer or smartphone, card games, and games that help you learn the multiplication table while moving your body.
It can be hard to memorize when you think of it as “studying,” but if you approach it as a “game,” you can enjoy learning the multiplication table!
If you find a game that interests you, give it a try!
- [Get Friendly with Games] Math Games, Apps, and Activities
- A song that makes learning the times tables fun
- [For Elementary School Students] Cipher Quiz: Fun Puzzle Riddles
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [Playable from lower grades] Japanese language games and activities
- [Interesting] Compilation of Doraemon quiz questions
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- Math quiz for elementary school students
- Learn by Playing! Recommended Games with a Kanji Theme
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- How many can you solve? Brain-flexing math riddle quiz
- [For Kids] Fun Indoor Game Ideas for After-School Day Services
- Exciting! Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Christmas Party
A game to learn the multiplication table while playing (1–10)
Multiplication Fighter SagaPC game
The PC game “Multiplication Fighter Saga” is packed with handmade charm and helps you learn multiplication.
Each times table from 1 to 9 features unique enemy characters, and simple multiplication questions are presented for you to answer in order.
It’s precisely because it’s so simple that elementary school kids will get hooked! The game is full of clever touches to keep things fresh, like training stages where you can master skills beyond the basic times tables in preparation for the final boss.
It’s also great fun to compete with friends, learn your multiplication tables, and work together to defeat the last boss!
Treasure Defense Game
We’d like to introduce the “Protect the Treasure Game,” a surefire way to make even kids who struggle with the times tables excited about learning! It’s also recommended for teachers wondering how to teach students who find multiplication hard.
First, hand out a worksheet with a 3×3 grid and choose one multiplication table (one set of times tables).
Have the children fill the squares with the answers from the chosen table.
They can write them in order or randomly—either is fine! Next, without letting the teacher see, the kids secretly mark three squares with circles to hide their “treasures,” and the teacher plays the role of a detective or master thief to find them.
For example, if the teacher says “5×3,” the kids put an X on the square that says “15.” If their circled numbers survive, they win! The teacher can call out six multiplication facts, which makes it a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat game.
Multiplication Table Exploration
How about bringing “Multiplication Table Explorations” into your lessons—an activity where students step outside the textbook and look for multiplication facts in everyday life? Kids love exploring! It’s a playful way to learn the times tables as they search around the school for situations that can be expressed with multiplication.
For example, you might notice each poster is pinned at four corners with thumbtacks, or that faucets are arranged in rows of six.
Try counting those using the times tables.
You’ll likely find quantities that go beyond the 1–9 times tables, too.
That might seem hard to calculate, but you can actually use the basic tables to work out the answers.
It’s a great activity to enjoy together as a class!
kukupon!Card game
Let me introduce a card game called “kukupon!” that makes learning the multiplication table fun, like a game.
Even first graders or children who haven’t learned the times tables yet can play easily.
There are various ways to play, but as a simple option, here’s “Kuku-Awase,” a memory-matching game using the times tables.
It’s basically the same as the classic Concentration game with playing cards, but in “Kuku-Awase,” you match multiplication equations with their answers.
You flip an answer card first, so you can think about the original equation while enjoying the game!
Try of the multiplication tableApp
Let me introduce an app game called “Kuku no Try,” where you can collect monsters by clearing multiplication problems! Adorable monsters appear, so kids can have fun while learning the times tables.
It’s a nurturing game where the monsters evolve as you answer each problem correctly in order, from the 1 to 9 times tables.
You can choose from ascending, descending, or random modes, so you can practice until you’re able to answer even when the order is mixed up.
It’s a great app for kids who struggle with math to learn together with monsters in a fun way—so give it a try!
Poop Drill Multiplication, 2nd Grade Elementary Schooldrill
Why not have fun learning multiplication with the Unko Drill, a workbook that became a social phenomenon? It’s highly recommended for kids who get bored with monotonous repetition! It’s packed with problems that you can solve with a smile, even just a little.
Thanks to the magic of “poop,” you can expect to boost your calculation skills in a short time.
In addition to basic review tests and summary tests, it also includes calculation puzzles, quizzes, and mazes, so you can keep learning to the end without getting bored.
It even comes with dress-up stickers that let you customize your Poop Warrior as you solve problems, which will lift your spirits.
Multiplication Table Bingo
Why not incorporate “Multiplication Bingo,” a bingo game that helps kids memorize the times tables? First, write answers from the times tables in the bingo squares.
We recommend changing the grid size—such as 3×3 or 5×5—based on students’ proficiency.
Read out multiplication problems at random; as children say the answers aloud, they mark a circle on any number they’ve written that matches the answer.
When they complete a line—vertical, diagonal, or horizontal—they get bingo! It’s especially recommended for children who already know the times tables to some extent, so give it a try and have fun!